Gas-producing furnace.



No. 876,903. PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

G. GAMER.

GAS PRODUCING FURNACE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 20, 1907.

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No. 876,903 PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908.

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GAS PRODUCING FURNAGE.-

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CHARLES GAMER, OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS.

' GAS-PRODUCING FURNACE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

Original application filed May 24, 1907, Serial No. 375.393. Divided and this application filed August 20. 1907. Serial No. 389.351.

3 To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES GAMER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fort Worth in the county of Tarrant and State of Texas, have invented a Gas-Producing Furnace, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a furnace and more particularly to a furnace adapted to produce gas from lignite or other gas pro ducing material, and the object is to provide an inexpensive furnace which is simple in construction and operation and highly eflicient in the combustion of slack coal, lignite, and other gas producting material. The advantage of such furnace is that any individual manufacturing concern or business establishment can manufacture gas for its own use at small cost.

Other objects and advantages will be fully explained in the following description and the invention will be more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the furnace. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the furnace and a side elevation of the gas collecting and purifying apparatus to Which the furnace is connected. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of the furnace along the line a: as of Fig. 1.

This application is made in response to the requirement for division in my pending application for gas producers Ser. No. 375,393, filed May 24, 1907.

The furnace wall 1 may be cylindrical in form except that portion which incloses thegrates and the grate operating mechanism. Lateral extension 2 and 3 are provided for inclosing the grates and the grate operating mechanism. The furnace is provided with a chute 4 and a hopper 5 for feeding lignite or other material to the furnace. When lignite is not being fed to the furnace, the chute 4 may be closed by a rotary valve 6 which may be operated by a crank or handle 7. In that part of the furnace where combustion takes place, the furnace is lined preferably with fire brick 8. For the purpose of clearing the furnace of clinkers which form near the bottom or lower part of the combustion chamber, shifting grates 9 and 10 a re provided and horizontally disposed therein. The lower grate 10 stands normally within the furnace to support the material during combustion, but may be withdrawn to let the ashes fall to the ash box 11. The grates may be shifted in the lateral extensions 2 and 3. Each grate is made in two sections. The sections are moved by means of screw shafts. Screw shafts 12 are provided for the grate 9 and the screw'shafts are provided with right and left threads so that the sections will be driven in opposite directions back into the extensions 2 and 3 when the shafts are turned'in one direction and driven from the extensions 2 and 3 towards each other when the shafts are turned in the opposite direction. Boxes 13 are provided within the furnace below the combustion chamber for the screwshafts and the grate bearings 14. The boxes 13 have horizontal slots in the walls adjacent to the grates to receive the edges of thegrates. The grate 10 is moved or shifted by screw shafts 15. The grates have bearings 14 formed integral therewith and these bearings are threaded to receive the screw shafts 12 and 15. The bearings 14 are protected by the boxes 13. The screw shafts 12 and 15 are journaled in the extensions 2 and 3 and are provided with packing glands 16. Sprocket wheels 17 are mounted on the screw shafts 12an'd 15 and sprocket chains 18 are mounted on the sprocket wheels 17. A crank 19 may be mounted on one of the screw shafts 12 at one side of the extension 3 so that both shafts 12 will be driven simultaneously and the two sections of grate 9 moved simultaneously. In the same manner the crank 19 may be mounted on one of the shafts 15 to move both shafts 15 simultaneously, the crank 19 being located at the opposite side of extension 3' from crank 20.

The grate 9 is used principally for breaking the clinkers which form at the bottom of the combustion chamber. The formation of clinkers at or near the grate has been a great obstacle to the production of gas because the clinkers choke the furnace at the point where the principal combustion is accomplished.

The upper grate 9 is normally withdrawn in the extensions 2 and 3, but may be thrust towards the center of the furnace whenever necessary for breaking the clinkers off the bottom of the burning mass ,of fuel.

Means are provided for clearing the clinkers from the fire brick 8 near and at the bottom part of the fire brick. A scraper 21 is mounted in the lower part of the furnace. This scraper is provided with upwardly proj ecting arms 22. These arms may be thrust up through grate 10 whenever necessary for breaking the clinkers from the fire brick lining. The upper grate 9 is always withdrawn in the extensions during the operation of the scraper. The scraper 21 is moved up and down by racks 23 and pinions 24: which are mounted on a shaft 25 which may be driven in any suitable manner. Air may be admitted to the furnace in any suitable manner, as through inlets 26.

The products of combustion are delivered to a series of chambers 27 through an exit pipe or box 28. a The chambers 27 have communication with each other in series by means of chambers 29 at the upper and lower ends. The gas is collected in a tank or reservoir 30 and the tar and other matter is collected in a trough 31. Sufficient draft is created in the furnace to furnish air for combustion purposes by the engine which takes the gas from the tank 30. The removal of gas from the tank 30 will tend to create a vacuum in the chambers 27 and also in the furnace. The furnace needs no other means of providing air for combustion purposes.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

1. A gas producing furnace having a casing, a lower grate and an upper grate mounted in said casing, extensions on each side of said furnace into which said grates may be shifted, means for moving said grates alternately into and. out of said extensions, and means for collecting the products of combustion and separating the gas therefrom.

2. A gas producing furnace comprising a casing, a combustion chamber in said casing, a fire brick lining for said combustion chamber, shifting grates one above the other below said combustion chamber made in sections, extensions on each side of said furnace for said upper and lower grate sections alternately, and means for shifting said grates into and out of said extensions 3. A gas producing furnace having a combustion chamber, shifting grates below said combustion chamber, extensions on each side of said furnace for said grates, bearing boxes on each side of said grates having slots thereinv receiving the edges of said grates,

said grates having bearings operating in said boxes, and screw shafts engaging said bearings for moving said grates.

4. A gas producing furnace having a combustion chamber, shifting grates below said chamber made in sections, extensions, one on each side of said furnace, boxes on each side of said grates having slots forming ways for said grates, said grates having bearings movin in said boxes, and screw shafts having rig t and left threads and engaging the bearings of said grates to move the sections of said grates in opposite directions.

5. A gas producing furnace having a combustion chamber, shifting grates below said chamber made in sections, extensions, one on each side of said grates, a box ,on each side of said grates having a slot for receiving the edges of said grates, said grates having bearings moving in said boxes, right and left screw-threaded shafts journaled in said extensions and engaging said bearings for moving the sections of said grates in opposite directions, and gearing for driving said shafts.

6. A gas producing furnace having a combustion chamber, shifting grates below said chamber made in sections, an extension on each side of said furnace, a box on each side of said grate having a slot therein receiving the edges of said grates, said grates having bearings projecting in and movable in said boxes, right and left screw threaded shafts mounted in said boxes and engaging said. bearings, air and gas tight journals in said extensions for said shafts, and gearing for driving saidv shafts.

7. A gas producing furnace having a combustion chamber, an upper and lower grate in sections horizontally disposed below said chamber, extensions to permit shifting of said grate sections, means for shifting said upper and lower grate sections alternately, a scraper having upwardly projecting blades adapted to be thrust through, said lower grate, and

gearing for moving said scraper vertically.

In testimony whereof, I set my hand in the presence of two witnesses, this 15th day of August, 1907. w I V p CHARLES GAMER.

Witnesses:

A. L. JAoKsoN, B. J. LoRKowsKI. 

